You have to be Beautiful!

One facial change that really bothers people is the appearance of jowls – those fleshy, droopy folds at the jaw line that typically come with age. Many surgeons consider jowl correction as the single most important part of a facelifting procedure. The issue will be debated by leading experts at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), being held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center April 23-27, 2010. “The Jowls – Their Importance in Achieving Successful Facial Rejuvenations” will be moderated by Charles H. Thorne, MD, and will include Fritz E. Barton, MD, Alain Fogli, MD, James C. Grotting, MD, and Nigel Mercer, MD.

Jowls eventually appear in a large percentage of people. The appearance of jowls is a “double whammy” because it also brings with it a distinct change in facial shape (wider and more rectangular in the lower face) characteristic of “older” people. At first glance it appears that the jowls simply drop from the face and are a result of gravity; research, however, suggests that atrophy of surrounding fat may be as important as gravity in the etiology of jowls.

“A theme in recent years has been the maintenance and enhancement of facial volume. Patients, however, do not want volume in their jowls. Should fat be excised or suctioned? Should the fat be pulled up into the face by tension on the SMAS (musculature of the face)? Should the pre-jowl area be filled with fat to make the transition from chin to jaw line smoother? Or are jowls so difficult that they require all of the above maneuvers?” said Dr. Thorne, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan and moderator of the panel. “The panel will address all of these questions, and it promises to be a fascinating and potentially controversial discussion.”

The formation of jowls is one of the earlier signs of aging along with laxity in the neck. Generally part of an overall facelift procedure, correction may be accomplished by trimming fat, repositioning the jowl fat at a higher level, disguising the jowl by injecting more fat along the jaw line, or by a combination of these procedures. There were 94,927 surgical facelift procedures performed in the U.S. in 2009, according to ASAPS statistics.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to jowl correction,” said Dr. Grotting, a plastic surgeon in Birmingham, AL. “We will examine various techniques for improving the jowls in different types of patients.”

Panelists have been assembled from the U.S. and Europe in order to get diverse opinions on the subject of jowl correction.

“Europeans are reacting against a ‘look different’ facelift that delivers dramatic results – the trend in Europe is toward less invasive surgery when it comes to facelift procedures,” added Dr. Mercer, a plastic surgeon from the United Kingdom. “Toward this end, a ‘short scar lift’ with minimal incision and more subtle result has developed, and has broadened the scope of facelifting.”

When it comes to facial rejuvenation, many considerations must be made when determining the most appropriate approach for correcting the jowl, not the least of which being patient expectations, physical characteristics of the face and a patient’s medical history, and an ever-increasing number of potential procedures. Thus, selecting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon is the first and most important step toward safely achieving the ideal result.

Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Techniques for using digital technology in separating conjoined twins, developing facial prostheses and acquiring data from anthropologic specimens will be among the topics presented at a symposium sponsored by the American Association of Anatomists (AAA; http://www.Anatomy.org) on April 28. The symposium is part of the Experimental Biology 2010 conference being held April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

“The common thread of digital technology in fields from prosthetics to surgery to anthropology is its ability to enhance outcomes,” said Suzanne N. Verma, MAMS, Assistant Professor and Anaplastologist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Texas A & M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, who will co-chair the symposium. “Technology is the palette and the specialist’s creativity is the brush.”

Kenneth E. Salyer, MD, FACS, FAAP, of the World Craniofacial Foundation in Dallas will discuss how he used technology in planning the surgery performed to separate Egyptian conjoined twins Mohamed and Ahmed Ibrahim in 2003. The twins were joined at the top of their heads. Lessons learned from the successful separation and reconstruction of the twins are opening up new opportunities for future work in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Douglas Owsley, PhD, Curator and Head of the Division of Physical Anthropology at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., will discuss scientists’ perspective of Kennewick Man, one of the earliest skeletons ever found in the Americas. Kennewick Man is more than 9,000 years old, and Dr. Owsley used digital technology to scan the specimen’s skull and help to physically determine what it would look like with facial muscles and skin.

Ms. Verma will speak about how digital technology assists her in planning surgery and designing facial prostheses. “For example, we can use radiographic data to virtually create a 3D model of our patients, allowing us to preoperatively plan where to place an implant, plan the surgical approach for removing a tumor, or use the data to create a physical model of the missing anatomy” she said.

Andy Christensen, President of Medical Modeling Inc. in Golden, Colo. and co-chair of the symposium will discuss tactile medical modeling and the digital reconstruction process. In tactile medical modeling, specialists use data from digital imaging processes such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to create accurate plastic models.

Other topics to be presented at the symposium include the assessment of hard tissue structure and mechanics using digital models, and synchronizing sound, spatial positioning and anatomic visualizations in real time.

The symposium, “Digital Technologies in Anatomical Reconstruction: Rebuilding the Past and Engineering the Future,” will be held Wednesday, April 28, at 8:00 a.m. in Room 212AB of the Anaheim Convention Center.

Note

The symposium is part of the Experimental Biology 2010 conference being held April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Source
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)

Patients can decrease the frequency of Botox© Cosmetic injections after approximately two years and still receive most of the same wrinkle-smoothing cosmetic benefits, according to new research at Oregon Health & Science University.

“After two years of treatment at recommended intervals, patients can potentially cut the frequency, and thus the cost, of their Botox© treatments by half,” said Roger A. Dailey, M.D., F.A.C.S., professor and Lester Jones Endowed Chair of oculofacial plastic surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine. The results of Dailey’s work were presented at a meeting of American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon on April 24 in Washington, D.C. The research was sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from Allergen, Inc., the maker of Botox© Cosmetic.

The Botox© research effort also demonstrated that the injections have a wrinkle preventing – or prophylactic – effect. Patients who begin receiving injections between their 30s and 50s are able to prevent wrinkles from forming and eliminate existing wrinkles, said Dailey, head of the Casey Aesthetic Facial Surgery Center, which opened in 1991 as part of Casey Eye Institute.

Based on previous studies, doctors advised patients who wished to reduce wrinkles in the glabellar region – the area between the eyebrows – that they needed to have Botox© Cosmetic injections every three months to maintain the cosmetic wrinkle-smoothing benefits. Such frequent treatment, however, deterred some patients, Dailey said.

Dailey studied 50 women ages 30 to 50, who received regular Botox© injections for two years. “We found that after the patient receives Botox© Cosmetic injections every four months for two years, the frequency of the injections can be changed to every six months and still achieve good results,” Dailey said. “This demonstrates patients have the ability to achieve good results with broader treatment schedules and ultimately at a lower overall treatment cost.

Botox© has been approved for cosmetic use for eight years. In 2008, more than 5 million patients in the United States received cosmetic Botox© treatments, according to Allergen, the manufacturer. About 313,000 of those patients were men.

Source:
Ken Olsen
Oregon Health & Science University

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The pros and cons of laser-assisted lipoplasty will be discussed by leading experts at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), being held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center April 23-27, 2010. “Point/Counterpoint – Laser Lipoplasty – Hype or Useful Tool?” will be moderated by Franklin DiSpaltro, MD, and will include Barry DiBernardo, MD and Jeffrey M. Kenkel, MD.

According to the Society’s statistics, lipoplasty is the second most popular surgical procedure in the United States, with 283,735 performed in 2009. Laser-assisted lipoplasty, in which a laser is used to disrupt fat cells prior to suctioning, has been hotly debated by plastic surgeons since the first laser-assisted device received FDA clearance in late 2006. “The past two decades have been highly technology-driven, with the introduction of many advanced liposuction-assisting devices,” said Dr. DiSpaltro, a past president of ASAPS from West Orange, NJ. “Each new technology has spurred great interest and enthusiasm. It is our role to determine if it is hype or a useful tool.”

With laser-assisted lipoplasty, a laser probe is inserted into the target area through a small incision, which the surgeon aims at fatty tissue to rupture the fat cells. The laser is then directed toward the skin layer to initiate a stimulation of these cells to achieve a reported tightening of the skin. Fat and disrupted tissue is then suctioned out. The technique received significant media attention as a popular “fat-melting” treatment with a celebrity following.

However, initial data showed that this procedure was no better than traditional liposuction. Additionally, it could present some risks to the liver and kidneys by releasing fatty acids from the fat cells if the recommended concurrent liposuction step approved by the FDA and included in current teaching is not performed. In the wake of the media storm around the fat-melting “phenomenon”, a task force was assembled and charged with investigating the technology, analyzing any safety issues and efficacy as compared to other devices, developing a teaching protocol, and educating 2,500 surgeons in how to effectively perform the procedure.

“Over the last two-and-a-half years there has been extensive research and development into laser-assisted lipoplasty, including multiple rounds of research and comparative studies published in peer-reviewed journals,” said Dr. DiBernardo, a plastic surgeon in Montclair, NJ. “Ultimately, laser-assisted lipolysis has come to be an important tool in the fat loss armamentarium.”

While laser-assisted lipolysis has since been found to be a safe, effective, and teachable technique for body contouring, the bottom line is that no tool on its own is a replacement for the skill and experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon.

“It is important to note that no device is a magic wand,” added Dr. Kenkel, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX. “Despite any hype generated by manufacturers, physicians, patients, or the media, results are ultimately practitioner-driven.”

Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Suneva Medical, a privately-held aesthetic medical device company, announced that Steven R. Cohen, M.D., F.A.C.S, Clinical Professor, University of California, San Diego and John H. Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA, presented interim results from the prospective, open-label, five-year safety study on Artefill for nasolabial fold (NLF) correction. The oral presentations took place at the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s Aesthetic Meeting 2010 in Washington, D.C. and the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery’s International Symposium in Hollywood, FL, respectively.

Dr. Cohen commented, “Artefill has consistently proven to be an effective, more permanent treatment option for smile lines. Our initial findings from this five-year study are consistent with the pivotal trial and show Artefill has a safety profile that appears to be similar to other dermal fillers on the market today.”

The 23-center, prospective, open-label study consists of 1,008 patients who had no recent history of nasolabial fold correction. Patients received an initial treatment with Artefill, and up to two touch-ups after 30 and 60 days, until full correction was achieved. Potential adverse events and satisfaction data are reported by all patients at 2, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months to assess the presence of or absence of adverse events, patient satisfaction, and any changes in health. Potential subject-reported AEs were followed up on and changes thought to be granulomas were biopsied and confirmed or ruled out by histology. All study patients will complete a final in-office visit at 60-months.

Dr. Joseph added, “Patient satisfaction is critical to our success as surgeons. Our patients have been extremely pleased with the long-term benefits of Artefill and the interim trial results further support this, showing consistent and lasting high patient satisfaction ratings with the product.”

About Artefill

Artefill is the first and only FDA-approved microsphere-enhanced dermal filler for the correction of nasolabial folds, better known as smile lines. Since Artefill was approved in 2006, over 20,000 patients have been treated.

About Suneva Medical

Suneva Medical, Inc. is a medical technology company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing novel, differentiated aesthetic products for the dermatology, plastic and cosmetic surgery markets. The Company’s lead product is Artefill®, the first and only microsphere-enhanced collagen filler for the correction of nasolabial folds, or smile lines.

Source: Suneva Medical, Inc

Severely obese adolescents may desire or potentially benefit from bariatric surgery. However, half of primary care physicians say they would not recommend the procedure to a patient under the age of 18, according to research published in Obesity Surgery.

Childhood obesity has increased dramatically since the 1970s. Obese adolescents are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, hypertension, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis, sleep apnea, choleolithiasis and premature death as adults.

Researchers surveyed a national random sample of pediatricians and family physicians for their opinions on referring adolescents for bariatric surgery. They discovered half of these physicians would not consider it for adolescent patients.

“We still have a lot to learn about the long term effects of bariatric surgery among adolescents,” says Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center at the University of Michigan, “But recent studies suggest that it can be helpful to improve the health outcomes of severely obese adolescents.”

“Physicians worry whether the risks will outweigh the benefits,” adds Woolford, who is also an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and communicable diseases at U-M. “How long adolescents will be able to sustain the weight loss and what the psychological outcomes would be in their future, are questions that are still being explored. If findings are similar to those in adults, there could be significant weight loss and health benefits.”

Physicians who support the possibility of bariatric surgery for adolescents may do so because studies have indicated that obesity in adolescents has long-term health effects even if patients eventually lose weight, the authors write. Adolescent years can also be difficult socially and emotionally for extremely obese youth.

“With the increasing media presentations of surgeries for weight loss among the general public and Hollywood celebrities, more obese adolescents and their parents are likely to consider it,” the authors write. Primary care physicians should be prepared to discuss this treatment option with families.

“Primary care physicians are on the front line of obesity treatment,” says Woolford, “Their attitudes regarding bariatric surgery may affect whether or not an adolescent pursues the procedure.”

The study also found almost all physicians endorsed participation in a monitored weight loss program as a prerequisite for bariatric surgery, though the minimum suggested duration for participation varied from three months to over 5 years.

For adolescents, participating in these programs could be helpful by providing time to make a stable decision regarding surgery and to adopt healthy habits that will improve their post-operative course, but the delay in surgery could also lead to further weight gain.

The authors suggest further studies should explore primary care physicians’ knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery for adolescents and the basis upon which they make referral decisions regarding bariatric surgery for their obese patients.

Additional authors: Along with Woolford, Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., Achamyeleh Gebremariam, M.S., Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P. and Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H., all of the University of Michigan.

Source: University of Michigan Health System

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) applauds Ramona Singer, one of the ‘Real Housewives of New York City’, for emphasizing the importance of choosing a board certified plastic surgeon with appropriate hospital privileges in a recent episode of the reality show. On the 9th episode of Season 3 titled “Stay on Message,” one of the featured women, Sonja Morgan, takes her friend, Ramona Singer to her plastic surgery consultation to help her ask the surgeon necessary questions about her lipoplasty (liposuction) procedure.

During the consultation, Ramona Singer asked the surgeon if he had operating privileges at a hospital to perform the procedure in question, what year he was board certified in, and if he is a member of ASAPS.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the only national organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery, applauds Ms. Singer’s questions and suggests that other people considering plastic surgery ask the same questions during their consultations or bring along a friend who will.

The Aesthetic Society offers the following list of questions as a guideline of what to ask during a consultation with a plastic surgeon:

- Check Board-Certification: A doctor’s board-certification is the best indicator of his or her training in a particular medical or surgical specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only Board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify doctors in the specialty of plastic surgery.

- Check ASAPS Membership: ASAPS membership ensures that a doctor not only is ABPS-certified (or, in Canada, certified in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.) but also has significant experience in cosmetic surgery. ASAPS membership is by invitation only.

- Check Facility Accreditation: Cosmetic surgery can safely be performed in a hospital, a surgicenter or an office-based surgical facility: Current published data show that accredited office-based facilities have a safety record comparable to that of hospital ambulatory surgery settings. However, the majority of office-based surgical facilities are not accredited. Another advantage of selecting an ASAPS member is that all ASAPS surgeons operate in accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified facilities.

- Check Hospital Privileges: Before granting operating privileges, hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon’s training and competency for specific procedures. Wherever the surgery will be performed, be sure that the surgeon has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure being considered.

- Check Reliable Sources: Asking a patient’s primary care doctor for recommendations is a good place to start, and friends may offer suggestions; but the surgeon’s board-certification should always be verified independently by contacting the American Board of Plastic Surgery . Free referral information to board-certified plastic surgeons with significant experience in cosmetic surgery can be found on http://www.surgery.org. ASAPS’ web site also offers extensive information about cosmetic surgical procedures.

Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)

Lifestyle treatments that improve the effects of aging and damage to the skin have performed better than other dermatologic drugs due to the demands of an aging baby boomer population. These lifestyle products do not treat diseases but rather meet cosmetic needs, and they are a new focus for many pharmaceutical companies facing tough regulations, market conditions and fewer blockbusters. The trend was reported by healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information in its new title “The Market for Prescription Dermatological Drugs, 7th Edition.”

The pharmaceutical industry is facing a tougher environment in general, due to harder regulations for gaining approvals for mainstream products, the economic downturn, and a dwindling pipeline of new products, and prescription dermatologic makers have the same challenges. Reliance on blockbuster drugs is, according to Kalorama Information’s research, no longer a viable strategy for many drug developers. In cosmetic medications, manufacturers are realizing there is less scrutiny from the FDA and healthy consumer demand for effective products that reduce the signs of aging such as wrinkles and imperfections of the skin.

Competitors are increasingly offering products that meet this need. According to the report, the market leader in the prescription anti-aging and photodamage market is Allergan, the producer of the popular Botox filler, but Dysport and other products in development may cause a slight shift in their market share in the future. Medicis, which produces the popular filler Restylane, and Johnson & Johnson, which offers Renova and the Retin A line, are also competitive in the cosmetic treatment market. Kalorama Information estimates the global market for prescription anti-aging and photodamage products reached $1.4 billion in 2009, largely due to the increasing popularity of collagen implants and injections. Growth should continue at an annual rate of 6.1% through 2014.

“There are many advantages to entering the largely untapped market for prescription anti-aging and photodamage products,” notes Mary Anne Crandall, analyst for Kalorama Information and author of the report. “These include huge demand driven by the unquenchable desire of an aging population to hold onto its youthful appearance for as long as possible and fewer regulatory hurdles; also many therapies may offer a signification upside potential for a switch to nonprescription status in the future.”

Kalorama Information’s “The Market for Prescription Dermatological Drugs, 7th Edition” analyzes this market, identifies major market factors that may help to shape the global market in the future, and provides key information including market data and forecasts, product reviews, trends and issues, and detailed company profiles. The report is available here.

Source
Kalorama Information

Cohera Medical, Inc.® announced that top-line clinical study results demonstrate the safety and preliminary effectiveness of the company’s lead surgical adhesive product, TissuGlu®.

The prospective, open-label, randomized study involving 40 patients at three sites in Germany met its primary endpoints of safety and preliminary effectiveness related to time to drain removal and secondary endpoints of associated wound healing complications, cumulative wound drainage, number of additional procedures and visits, and improved quality of life. In the trial, investigators compared standard wound closure techniques used in abdominoplasty surgeries, or “tummy tuck,” to standard wound closure techniques plus the application of TissuGlu. The purpose of the study was to determine TissuGlu’s effect on wound drainage and associated complications in the surgeries.

“We are pleased that the top-line clinical trial results demonstrate both the safety and preliminary effectiveness of TissuGlu,” said Klaus Walgenbach, M.D., Ph.D., of the Universitatsklinikum Bonn and the principal investigator for the study. “The product has the potential to change the way plastic surgeons address the wound drainage challenges of abdominoplasty procedures. We look forward to presenting detailed study results at an upcoming medical conference as well as submitting them for publication.”

The positive results from the first-in-man study of Cohera’s surgical adhesive in abdominoplasty procedures move the product toward CE Mark application in Europe and a larger clinical study in the U.S. this year.

“We are moving quickly to address a significant unmet medical need while helping plastic surgeons to improve the overall care of their patients,” said Patrick Daly, president and chief executive officer of Cohera Medical. “The positive study results add to the extensive preclinical data that show the safety and effectiveness of TissuGlu. We envision the TissuGlu market opportunity in plastic surgery to encompass applications beyond tummy tuck, such as breast reconstruction and body contouring. This is a large opportunity that can exceed $700 million world wide.”

Currently, patients who undergo abdominoplasty require the insertion of drains to remove fluids that accumulate under the skin at the surgical site. In some cases, drainage is inadequate, and the excess fluid accumulation called seroma requires an additional procedure for removal. TissuGlu adheres the tissue flaps created during the procedure to reduce fluid accumulation, and, ultimately, the duration of use of the surgical drains. With the use of TissuGlu, patients may experience a significant reduction of fluid accumulation and a more comfortable recovery, which may lead to a quicker return to normal activity.

About Cohera Medical

Cohera Medical, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that is developing a revolutionary line of surgical adhesives. Cohera Medical’s products are based on a unique chemical design that is purely synthetic, easy to use, biocompatible and fully resorbable. The company’s lead product in development, TissuGlu, is an adhesive for plastic surgery procedures. TissuGlu adheres flaps of tissue after surgical procedures, eliminating the spaces where fluid accumulates and reducing wound drainage. Cohera Medical is also developing surgical adhesives targeting mesh fixation, small bone fixation and other plastic surgery indications that will fill similar market needs in plastic, orthopedics and general surgery. For more information, visit www.coheramed.com. TissuGlu and the other Cohera products are currently indicated for investigational use only and have not yet been approved for medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. or in any other market.

Certain statements made throughout this news release that are not historical facts contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s future plans, objectives and expected performance. Any such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, but are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties and, therefore, there can be no assurance that actual results may not differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Source: Cohera Medical, Inc.

More than 12.5 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2009 at a cost of $10 billion including 5.1 million reconstructive surgeries such as scar revisions, breast reconstructions, burn care, hand surgeries and correction of birth defects, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Plastic surgeons are on the forefront of new methods to reduce downtime, increase post-operative healing, lessen discomfort, and decrease scarring. Downtime is reduced from weeks to days so that patients are back to work and regular activities quickly. Reduced downtime means patients lose less time away from work (lost wages), family and social activities.

The low lever laser used is the Patented ML830® which was the first “low level Laser” approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat pain and swelling. The Laser produces no heat to tissue and causes vasodilation in the Micro Capillary bed, the treatment is painless with no side effects.

Daniel Man M.D. reports reduction in post-operative downtime for his cosmetic surgery patients. Post surgical scarring, discomfort and pain has been dramatically reduced with minimal downtime, in most cases downtime is reduced from weeks to days. More than 1,000 treatments were performed on 125 patients during a 4 month period resulting in an 80% improvement in scar reduction and overall pain. Dr. Man has published extensively on the subject of facelifts and advanced lipoplasty techniques. He is the author of numerous articles and books, and is a featured speaker at the national scientific meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) “Hot Topics.” His paper on more natural facelifts entitled “Reducing The Incidence of Ear Lobe Deformity in Facelifts” was published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Aug./Sept. 2009.

Source
MicroLight Corporation

A study of patients undergoing elective facial plastic surgery suggests that older patients and those currently being treated for depression may be more likely to be satisfied with the results of their procedures, whereas overall optimism and pessimism do not appear related to satisfaction with surgical outcomes, according to a report in the May/June issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Almost 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007, a more than four-fold increase over the previous 10 years, according to background information in the article. “Because more patients choose to undergo cosmetic surgery, improvement of surgical outcomes becomes increasingly important,” the authors write. “Currently, there is an emphasis in the plastic and facial plastic surgery literature on surgical techniques to improve surgical results. A relative improvement in surgical outcomes, however, tends to be subjective and patient and/or surgeon satisfaction can be highly unpredictable.”

Jill L. Hessler, M.D., of Premier Plastic Surgery, Palo Alto, Calif., and colleagues surveyed 51 patients at one facial cosmetic surgery center between 2007 and 2008. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, a test to evaluate optimism and pessimism and a surgical outcomes survey specific to their type of procedure (for instance, facelift or nasal surgery). Four to six months later, they again completed the optimism/pessimism and surgical outcomes assessments. The four surgeons at the center were also asked to participate.

Patients who were older than the average age of 53 were more satisfied with their surgical results than patients younger than the average age. This may reflect more realistic expectations among older patients, the authors note.

In addition, those currently being treated for depression were more satisfied than those who were not being treated for depression. No correlation was identified between a patient’s optimism or pessimism at the beginning of the study and later satisfaction, nor did any other demographic factor assessed predict later satisfaction.

Patients and physicians generally agreed with regard to satisfaction, although surgeons tended to be less positive in their assessment of outcomes than were patients.

“The ability to preoperatively identify patient characteristics (psychological, social or demographic) that might impact the subjective perception of surgical outcome and predict dissatisfaction with facial plastic surgery could be highly useful to surgeons,” the authors conclude. “Although preliminary, our observations provide insight into these relationships and identify potential associations, which establish a basis upon which future studies can be built. In particular, it will be interesting to design larger scale studies to examine the potential associations between perceived surgical outcomes and sex, education, marital status, depression and/or inclination toward optimism/pessimism.”

Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2010;12[3]:192-196.

Source
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery

A new method of analysing squalene and squalane, oils often used in the production of cosmetics and vaccines, can show whether they came originally from the liver oil of deepwater sharks or from olive oil.

In 2006 the European Union imposed deep-sea shark fishing limits in the North-East Atlantic, and since 2008 some important cosmetic firms have declared that they have stopped using shark squalane. Up to now however there has been no way that a manufacturers could determine whether the squalene or squalane they are using has come from sharks or olives, but the new scientifically validated method announced in this month’s edition of Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry will reveal the source.

Squalane is used as an emollient and a hydrating agent in many cosmetics, and squalene is used to increase the power of the vaccines.

Currently thousands of endangered deep sea sharks are killed each year purely to supply a cheap source of these oils, with squalene being the second most sought after raw product of sharks after their fins. A technique does exist to extract these compounds from vegetable sources such as olive oil, but shark-derived squalene offers a higher yield and requires shorter processing times, therefore involving lower costs. Consequently there is a temptation for oil suppliers to keep on exploiting sharks.

“Our method will protect both cosmetic firms and consumers from commercial fraud and will make it possible to promote the production of squalene from olive oil. It will also allow the origin of squalane within a finished product to be determined. Together, this will discourage the illegal fishing of deepwater sharks and thus contribute towards protecting sharks from the threat of extinction,” says Federica Camin, who works at the IASMA Research and Innovation Centre Fondazione Edmund Mach, in San Michele all’Adige, Italy.

The method uses an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer coupled to an Elemental Analyser or Gas Chromatographer/combustion system to measure the ratio of two different forms of carbon (Carbon-13 and Carbon-12). In the study published in this month’s paper, the team of researchers analysed 13 authentic samples from olive oil (from Spain, Italy, France and Turkey) and 15 samples from shark liver oil (from Spain, Portugal, Japan and Korea), therefore representative of the production area of squalene. The Carbon-13/Carbon-12 ratios were significantly lower in authentic olive oil than in shark samples.

“The new method could be proposed as an official way of detecting whether any batch of squalene or squalane has come from animal or plant sources, allowing manufactures to make clear claims about the ethical status of their products,” says Camin.

Source:
Michelle Martella
Wiley-Blackwell

A compound found in sunless tanning spray may help to heal wounds following surgery, according to new results published by plastic surgeons from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City and biomedical engineers at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where the novel compound was developed.

Results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that a sticky gel composed of polyethylene glycol and a polycarbonate of dihydroxyacetone (MPEG-pDHA) may help to seal wounds created by surgery.

Procedures to remove cancerous breast tissue, for example, often leave a hollow space that fills with seroma fluid that must typically be drained by a temporary implanted drain. “This is an unpleasant side effect of surgery that is often unavoidable,” explains Dr. Jason Spector, co-author of the study and plastic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The gel could potentially be used in all different reconstructive surgeries to prevent seroma formation. “The new substance would act to glue together the hole left behind to prevent seroma buildup,” says Dr. Spector.

DHA is a compound that sticks to compounds in biological tissues, called amines. The sticky properties of DHA are what allows sunless tanner to adhere to the skin without being wiped off. However, it is biodegradable and water soluble as well, which means that the compound does not stay tacked onto the body’s tissues forever. Currently used “bio-glues” are made from animal products and take a long time to degrade in the body — both factors that raise the risk of infection.

“DHA is a compound that is naturally produced in the body,” explains Dr. David Putnam, the study’s senior author and a biomedical engineer from Cornell University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. “The glue is broken down, or metabolized, and then safely removed by the body.”

Dr. Putnam’s lab and his collaborators work to create safe, synthetic compounds from chemicals found in nature. DHA is an intermediary compound produced during the metabolism of glucose, a sugar used by the body for fuel.

To create the new compound, MPEG-pDHA, Dr. Putnam and his lab first bound the single molecule monomer of DHA, which is highly reactive, to a protecting group molecule, making it stable enough to manipulate. This allowed the engineers to bind the monomers together to form a polymer, or chain of molecules, along with MPEG. Doing so allows the polymer gel to be injected through a syringe.

“Making a polymer from DHA has eluded chemical engineers for about 20 years,” says Dr. Putnam.

Now in gel form, the compound has the ability to stick tissues together, preventing the pocket from filling with seroma fluid, like an internal Band-Aid, explains Dr. Putnam. The researchers found that the gel prevented or significantly lowered seroma formation or fluid buildup in rats that had breast tissue removed.

“The next step would be to test the gel on larger animals and then in clinical trials in human surgical cases,” says Dr. Spector.

Previous results, published by Drs. Putnam and Spector, in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, showed that the gel also prevented bleeding in a rat liver.

“This is another aspect of the compound that would be greatly beneficial if proven to be applicable in humans,” says Dr. Spector. “The gel could speed the healing and decrease bleeding within the body.”

This research was supported in part from a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a grant from the Morgan Tissue Engineering Fund, an Early Career Award from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, and the New York State Center for Advanced Technology.

Co-authors of the study include Dr. Peter Zawaneh from Cornell University, Dr. Sunil Singh and Dr. Peter Henderson from Weill Cornell, and Dr. Robert Padera from the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located in New York City, is one of the leading academic medical centers in the world, comprising the teaching hospital NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical College, the medical school of Cornell University. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine, and is committed to excellence in patient care, education, research and community service. Weill Cornell physician-scientists have been responsible for many medical advances — including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer; the synthesis of penicillin; the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S.; the first clinical trial for gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease; the first indication of bone marrow’s critical role in tumor growth; and, most recently, the world’s first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital also comprises NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division and NewYork-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report. Weill Cornell Medical College is the first U.S. medical college to offer a medical degree overseas and maintains a strong global presence in Austria, Brazil, Haiti, Tanzania, Turkey and Qatar.

Source: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Dr. Jim Cain, III, founder and medical director of Innovative Aesthetics a cosmetic and medical aesthetics practice in Houston, Texas, has recently completed a two-year Aesthetics Medicine Fellowship with Dr. Sharon McQuillon of the Ageless Aesthetic Institute. The Fellowship Certification in Aesthetic Medicine is a certification program of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

The Fellowship Certification in Aesthetic Medicine is issued to individuals with MD, DO, and MBBS degrees. This Aesthetics Medicine Fellowship program is the only ACCME accredited aesthetic training program in the United States to offer AMA/PR Level 4 certification.

The Medical Aesthetics Fellowship establishes best practices and standards in aesthetic medicine and enables physicians to learn specific aesthetic techniques and complete hands-on training in each procedure. The Aesthetic AntiAging Fellowship is a sixpart series consisting of a threemodule didactic lecture series, three module handson clinical training series, case study submissions in aesthetic procedures, and a written exam.

To obtain the fellowship, Dr. Jim Cain completed coursework and clinical training in the following areas:

- Lasers and Light Based Devices in Aesthetic Medicine
- BOTOX Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin A) Injections
- Facial Fillers for Aesthetic Enhancement
- Removal of Unwanted Veins with Sclerotherapy
- Chemical Peels for Skin Rejuvenation
- Body Contouring Techniques such as SmartLipo and VASER LipoSelection

“Medical aesthetics is one of the fastest growing medical specialties in the U.S. Becoming a Fellow in Aesthetic Medicine is a significant professional landmark. It tells my patients that I am experienced, qualified, and well-trained in all of the cosmetic and aesthetic procedures offered at Innovative Aesthetics,” said Dr. Jim Cain, III.

Source
Innovative Aesthetics

Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the global launch of the V-Loc(TM) 90 device, expanding its family of V-Loc(TM) absorbable wound closure devices. This latest addition to Covidien’s knotless wound closure product line received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 11, 2010.

The V-Loc 90 device builds on the success of the V-Loc(TM) 180 device, launched in October 2009, as the first surgical device of its kind to feature uni-directional barbed technology. The device’s unique and proprietary self-anchoring loop and barb combination enables surgeons to close dermal wounds quickly and securely without tying knots or changing standard closure techniques. Covidien V-Locdevices close wounds up to 50% faster than conventional sutures of comparable holding strength.*

The V-Loc 180 device holds the wound edges together securely for the critical wound healing period, with absorption substantially complete within 180 days. The V-Loc 90 device contains faster absorbing material, which is based on Covidien’s Biosyn(TM) suture technology, and absorption is essentially complete within 90 to110 days. This makes the new device ideal for dermal and laparoscopic applications where a shorter absorption time is needed or preferred, such as in plastic reconstructive surgery, gynecologic surgery and general surgery.

“With this new addition to our knotless wound closure portfolio, surgeons have an even broader array of choices for closing surgical incisions safely, quickly and effectively,” said Michel Therin, Vice President, Soft Tissue Repair & Biosurgery, Covidien. “The V-Loc 90 device is designed to provide better patient outcomes through the fast absorption of the product following the critical wound healing period after surgery.”

Since the V-Loc device technology was first introduced, surgeons have used it in a wide variety of procedures for secure, fast and effective wound closure. Initial clinical testing shows that the use of V-Loc device technology significantly decreases the time needed to close surgical incisions.

“I have used the V-Loc 180 wound closure device for approximately one year in a wide variety of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic procedures and find it especially beneficial for closing long wounds,” said Dr. Klaus J. Walgenbach, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital Bonn. “The V-Loc device is easy to handle, and the tension it provides eliminates the need for a third hand. We also have experienced time savings during wound closure due to the elimination of knot implantation. The V-Loc device is a major step in wound closure.”

The V-Loc 90 device will be presented at the European Association of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting in Manchester, U.K., May 27-29, 2010. It also was previewed at The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in April 2010. At that meeting, surgeons responded very positively to the device’s ease of use and clear benefits, including time saved in the operating room and the reduced potential for knot-related complications.

*Compared to standard suture methods. Covidien V-Loc 180 Absorbable Wound Closure Device Time Study, Robert T. Grant, MD, FACS New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Argent Global Services.Utilization of a Porcine Model to Demonstrate the Efficacy of an Absorbable Barbed Suture for Dermal Closure, UTSW, S. Brown. Data on file.

Source
Covidien

Simulated Environment Concepts (PINKSHEETS: SMEV), makers of the high pressurized dry water massage and relaxation station SpaCapsule, announced that international cosmetic and clinical research company, Dermscan Group is currently running clinical trials on the influence SpaCapsule has on weight-loss and cellulite reduction.

“We created the SpaCapsule with the intent to aid in weight-loss and cellulite treatment,” said Dr. Ella Frenkel, Chairman and CEO of Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc. (SE Concepts). “And with hundreds of machines having been quietly sold over the past nine years, we’ve collected sufficient evidence to document the cellulite reduction and weight loss benefits of our SpaCapsule. However, we’re at the stage where we would rather have a reputable third party like the Dermscan Group verify our assertions, adding transparency.”

Established during 1990 in Lyon France, the Dermscan Group has become renowned internationally for its innovation in clinical trials. A member of the European Commission and authorized by the AFSSAPS (FDA equivalent), Dermscan is licensed by the French Government to conduct research, studies and clinical trials. Dermscan has received multiple awards and certifications over the years. With substantial growth through various partnerships and notable acquisitions over the past two decades, Dermscan has had the privilege of providing services to world-famous brands such as Bayer, Merck and Novartis, building a conclusive reputation for the Dermscan Group.

Marked by the company’s recent contract in France for the production of 250 capsules, along with its growing Netherlands distribution outlet — to name one — greater penetration into the European markets is imminent. While total relaxation may be a universal aspiration, in Europe the emphasis is on products that promote weight loss and cellulite reduction. SE Concepts contends its flagship product does just this and Dermscan should be able to confirm it.

Dr. Frenkel concluded, “Our patented SpaCapsule delivers customized Oxygenated Hydro-Massage which activates the tissues of the body where stubborn fat is located. Specifically designed high pressure, pulsating water jets effectively stimulate blood flow and accelerate the transport of fatty acids away from problem areas. This, in effect, boosts the production of collagen and elastin. The result is a slimed and toned body that most people crave — particularly women. We anticipate the results of the study will render conclusive proof that systematic use of the SpaCapsule helps in achieving weight loss and slimming; increasing our international appeal and possibly growing sales worldwide.”

About Dermscan

Dermscan closely cooperates and has relations with French (AFSSAPS, DGCCRF, DGS, etc.) and international (FDA, KFA, COLIPA, etc.) regulatory bodies. Member of the European Commission, SFC, NIPHAR, COVREC, ACIDIM, UNITIS, and many others. The company is licensed by French Government to conduct studies and clinical trials. It is authorized as site for biomedical research on human subjects by the AFSSAPS (the French FDA equivalent) and the French Ministry of Health (#22016 MHC and S).

Source
Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc.

Restoring people’s health and returning them to their daily lives as soon as possible is the goal following any surgery. When a person’s ability to eat and speak is affected, as with cancer in the mouth, surgery is particularly disruptive, creating a greater challenge. A one-step surgery can remove cancerous tissue and reconstruct bone and teeth functionality immediately, positively impacting the patient’s quality of life.

A case study in the June issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology describes a one-step surgery performed on a 65-year-old woman with squamous cell carcinoma. A two-year follow-up of this patient showed the one-step procedure to be successful.

Typically, ablative surgery is first performed to remove cancerous bone and tissue. The surgery is followed by radiotherapy, and often tooth loss. Reconstructing the jaw and placing a dental implant at this point are taxing due to the side effects of radiotherapy and poor patient tolerance.

The procedure outlined in this article permitted an impression to be taken immediately after the jaw reconstruction and implant installation during the initial surgery. A rigid prosthesis was fabricated and screw-secured to the implants 48 hours later. Complementary radiotherapy began six weeks following the surgery and implant. The prosthesis was modified as necessary six months after completion of the radiotherapy.

The advantages of single surgery include a reduced risk of osteonecrosis disease in the jawbone which can occur with postradiation surgery. A single surgery also can decrease the need for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The authors emphasize that this one-step surgery is possible because it respects the concepts of basal implantology. “Absolute primary implant stability and fabrication of a highly rigid prosthesis are essential from the outset,” they conclude.

Full text of the article, “Immediate Functional Loading of an Implant-Supported Fixed Prosthesis at the Time of Ablative Surgery and Mandibular Reconstruction for Squamous Cell Carcinoma,” Journal of Oral Implantology, Volume 36, Issue 1, 2010

About Journal of Oral Implantology

The Journal of Oral Implantology is the official publication of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and of the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics. It is dedicated to providing valuable information to general dentists, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, periodontists, scientists, clinicians, laboratory owners and technicians, manufacturers, and educators. The JOI distinguishes itself as the first and oldest journal in the world devoted exclusively to implant dentistry.

Source: Allen Press Publishing Services

Made popular for its ability to smooth wrinkles when injected into the face, Botox – a toxin known to weaken or paralyze certain nerves and muscles – may have another use that goes beyond the cosmetic.

Johns Hopkins researchers have found that patients with a painful and debilitating nerve compression disorder called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), which studies suggest may occur in up to 8 percent of the population, reported a significant reduction in short-term pain after receiving a single, low-dose injection of Botox in a muscle located in the neck.

Though the study, published in the April issue of the journal Pain Medicine, was small, researchers say it suggests Botox is a safe, noninvasive alternative to the syndrome’s treatment of last resort: surgery to remove the first rib and sever one of the muscles in the neck.

“There haven’t been many alternatives to the use of surgery to treat this syndrome,” says Paul J. Christo, M.D., M.B.A., an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. “Botox seems to be an effective treatment that avoids surgery’s obvious drawbacks, such as its invasive nature and long recovery time.”

Christo says his latest work significantly improves on previous studies in which TOS sufferers received several Botox injections or injections were made more blindly, without the aid of a CT scan.

TOS is caused by a compression of nerves in the lower neck, which occurs when there is not enough room in the cavity between the base of the neck and the armpit (the thoracic outlet) for nerve impulses to freely pass through. Symptoms often develop in the neck or head and tend to shoot down the arm, causing often excruciating pain, numbness and/or weakness in the limb and extremities. The condition is typically caused by the trauma of a motor vehicle accident, but can also be caused by sitting in the wrong position at a computer for long periods of time, by weightlifting or by an extra rib that is sometimes present in the neck. Treatments include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications or surgery.

Christo and his colleagues evaluated 27 patients who were candidates for surgery to treat their TOS and for whom physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications failed to help. Each was given a 20-unit injection of Botox, a brand-name drug that contains botulinum toxin, made from the same bacterium that causes botulism, a paralyzing and life-threatening form of food poisoning. Christo used a CT scanner to guide the placement of the needle in the patient’s anterior scalene muscle in the neck. Each session lasted around one minute, requiring minimal radiation, he says.

Patients experienced a significant decrease in pain in each of the first two months after the injection. At three months, patients still felt a 29 percent decrease in their TOS-related pain as measured on a scientific pain scale.

“This modest amount of pain reduction can have a significant impact on a patient’s life,” says Christo, a pain medicine specialist. “For many, it allows them to do what they couldn’t do before – brush their hair, brush their teeth, hold their child.”

Christo says the Botox works to temporarily relieve the pain of TOS in many patients because its paralyzing function decreases the tension and spasms of the muscle, relieving pressure on the nerves as more room is made for them to pass through the thoracic outlet. He says the drug may also decrease pain by reducing the number of neurotransmitters that notify the brain that the body is in pain. Though the study just looked at pain, Christo says some patients appeared to also have increased arm and shoulder function as a result of the Botox injections.

The effects of the drug begin to wear off in a few months, as they do when Botox is injected into facial wrinkles. Christo says patients should be able to receive repeated injections of Botox into the muscle over time, though some could develop antibodies to the compound with excessive use, which would mean the toxin would no longer block pain.

In the study, 48 percent of patients went on to have surgery. Christo says that is because many of those who agreed to participate in the Botox study did so only as a bridge of pain relief before they could get a date in the operating room. Others tried the Botox technique in the hope that they could avoid having surgery, he says. Not all patients are candidates for Botox.

Christo says he would like to do further research into the use of Botox for TOS, following up longer term with patients who are injected with the toxin.

Hopkins researchers Julie A. Freischlag, M.D., and Dana K. Christo, Ph.D., also worked on the study, along with Adam J. Carinci, of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Source
Johns Hopkins Medicine

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Universal Detection Technology (OTCBB: UNDT), a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats, and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, commented today on a recent study that said worldwide consumer demand for Botox was driving a black-market of fake versions of the cosmetic. The uncontrolled and unregulated production and distribution of counterfeit Botox could lead to would-be bioterrorists harboring botulinum toxin, the study warns.

The study was conducted by Monterey Institute’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and published in the June issue of Scientific American.

According to the authors, “the fake cosmetic products generally contain real toxin, albeit in widely varying amounts.” However, while one small vial might not pose a serious threat, the potential for would-be terrorists to purchase the products in bulk, or attempt to manufacture botulinum toxin themselves, is a grave concern.

Botulinum toxin is one of the most toxic substances known to man, more toxic than sarin nerve agent. It is estimated that a single gram of crystallized botulinum toxin could kill more than one million people. Botulinum toxin could be used to contaminate food supplies, but a more likely scenario involves dissemination of the toxin as an aerosol.

“This biowarfare potential puts the existence of illicit laboratories churning out the toxin and of shady distributors selling it worldwide through the internet into a more disturbing light than most pharmaceutical fraud,” noted the authors.

“The growing black-market for counterfeit Botox, while a consumer protection issue, should be a major red flag for our national security,” said Jacques Tizabi, CEO of Universal Detection Technology. “Universal Detection Technology is prepared to equip law enforcement, military, special forces and customs agents with the tools necessary to easily detect the lethal bioagent botulinum toxin, as well as a host of other deadly biohazards.”

Tizabi noted that the company’s flagship bioweapons detection kits, certified last year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an “Approved Product for Homeland Security,” are ideally suited for law enforcement teams uncovering counterfeit Botox detection labs in the field, as well as rapidly identifying suspicious agents discovered in unsecured locations. The kits are designed to detect and identify up to five separate threats using one sample in a single, easy-to-use device. The kits equip first responders with an effective tool for the rapid onsite detection of up to five biological warfare agents: anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin, Y. pestis (plague) and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB). Detection time is under three minutes.

Source:
Universal Detection Technology

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Hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers has revolutionised the approach to anti-ageing treatments for thousands of women. This Summer a new and even more exciting evolution in the field of injectable facial treatments is coming to the UK.

Novabel, from Merz Aesthetics, is not a wrinkle filler or line smoother; it is a versatile, gentle yet powerfully effective dermal shaper that delivers a fresh, natural and revitalised look.

But what is even more exciting news for women and men who want great treatment results, with minimum down time, is that the unique nature of the Novabel formula means that patients can, for the first time, be camera ready the moment they leave the clinic.

Not only are results immediately noticeable following completion of the 20-30 minute procedure but treatment with Novabel is virtually pain-free and leaves minimal post-injection swelling and redness the adverse events typically observed with traditional dermal fillers.

Whilst Novabel is a non-permanent treatment, trials are already showing that it can last up to 12 months.

Novabel is uniquely based on alginate, a natural and biocompatible polysaccharide extracted from marine algae. Through a patented process, extracted alginate is purified, stabilised and then formed into three-dimensional, flexible microspheres called Geleons. Its the patented Geleon technology that sets Novabel apart from all other non-permanent facial aesthetic treatments. Geleons have a number of properties that provide the outstanding results that Novabel achieves in aesthetic practice.

The spherical shape and uniform diameter and lack of cohesion of each Geleon gives Novabel an almost water-like consistency in the syringe. This permits a lower injection force than that typically required by traditional fillers and facilitates the use of extremely fine needles. Three-dimensional Geleons are also densely packed, highly flexible and do not reduce in volume when exposed to pressure. They have shape memory which means they can pass through narrow tissue structures and are then able to recapture their original spherical shape. These attributes give Novabel its impressive volumising and shaping capability as well as the versatility to treat multiple areas of the face from sensitive skin areas such as the hollows under the eyes to contouring the cheeks, chin and jawline and reducing the appearance of nose-to-mouth lines.

Novabels combination of ultra-gentle delivery, versatility and long-lasting, natural-looking results has already caused a stir amongst aesthetic practitioners who have recently trialled the product.

According to consultant physician Professor Syed Haq of Plastic Surgery Associates UK and the London Wellness Centre: Novabels flexibility and versatility is remarkable, as is the way that it harmonises so completely with facial tissue. As a physician, it provides a way for me to look not just at specific areas but at the whole face and consider how to restore overall volume and provide facial enhancement.

Ease of injection and immediate, predictable results also impressed cosmetic doctor Dr Michael Prager, whose advice is sought by some of the worlds richest women: The patients I injected went straight to photography after treatment. You wouldnt dare try something like that with an HA filler. I also dont have to work out which presentations and types of product to use on specific areas. Novabel can work wherever I need it to.

Manufactured by Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a German pharmaceutical company with over a century of healthcare innovation, Novabel is based on tried and trusted medical technology and has been through comprehensive clinical testing to confirm that it is completely safe as well as effective.

Novabel is only available from UK healthcare professionals who are registered with the Merz Academy and who have attended a Novabel Expert Workshop.

Source:cosmeticnewsportal.com